Kinshasa was a village on the south bank of the Congo when Stanley passed through in 1877. He returned in 1881 and established Leopoldville on the banks of contemporary Kintambo and Ngaliema. A post was opened upriver at Kinshasa in 1883. In 1923 Leopoldville was named the capital, comprising both Kinshasa and Leopoldville, established at Kalina (now Gombe), while "old" Leopoldville remained the capital of the Province. The Leopoldville-Kinshasa agglomeration was renamed Kinshasa in 1966.

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Thursday, January 4, 2018

Leopoldville 1930s – Postcards from the Art Deco (IV)

This post continues the earlier Art Deco tour of Kinshasa. Click on the link below for the previous post.

(23).
Sabena Guest House. Just after the elevated railroad bridge, on the left is the
former Sabena Guest house, now the Socogitel Guest House. The owner is
currently refurbishing the property in the original style. The original Sabena
Guest House was built in 1937 to provide lodging for flight crews making the four-day
flight from Belgium (Mar. 29, 2011).Passengers, as well, were put up for the
night prior to connecting to domestic flights to interior destinations.

The Sabena Guest House Restaurant

The restaurant today.

The restaurant with the original tables.

(24).
Stade Malula (Stade Reine Astrid). Continue down Ave. Kabasele Tshamala towards
Ndolo Airport.Turn right onto Ave
Kabambare.At the intersection of Ave. Kasavubu (Ave.
Prince Baudouin) the Catholic Church built Stade Reine Astrid in 1937 (Feb. 6, 2011). This was the main sports
venue in the capital until Stade Baudouin (Stade Tata Raphael) was built in
1952.